In one study,rats licked frequently during infancy by their mothers were calmer than rats licked infrequently when faced with stress later in life.What is the most likely explanation for this?
A)The rat pups that were frequently licked learned to engage in the licking behavior as a coping strategy during times of stress.
B)Because mothers who chose to lick their pups had a calmer demeanor,their pups were raised in less stressful environments.
C)By licking their pups,these mothers had influenced the expression of genes that influenced responses to a stress hormone.
D)The "licking" prone mothers only cared for the calmest pups of the litter,causing the more aggressive pups to die prematurely.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the amount of licking and grooming behavior by rat mothers can influence the expression of genes that regulate the production of stress hormones in their pups. Licking behavior appears to stimulate the activity of genes that lead to lower levels of stress hormones, which may explain why rats that are licked frequently as pups are calmer when faced with stress later in life.

In One Study,rats Licked Frequently During Infancy by Their Mothers